Classics Unlocked with Graham Abbott

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham explores the dynamic between the literary themes of William Shakespeare and the music of Giuseppe Verdi. Verdi took inspiration from the works of Shakespeare three times in his career, once fairly early on (Macbeth), and then decades later for his final two operas (Otello & Falstaff). He is on record as having expressed deep admiration for Shakespeare, and he read his works from an early age.

In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham looks at three of the most celebrated 'unfinished' symphonies, from the genius minds of Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner and Gustav Mahler.

In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham Abbott explores one of the landmarks of 20th century piano music in Claude Debussy's Preludes. Following the tradition laid down by JS Bach and Chopin (among others), Debussy wrote a set of 24 preludes (across two books of twelve), but the stress on them wasn't so much key as it was colour, expression and emotional impact.This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording:DEBUSSY: Preludes I & IIArturo Benedetti Michelangeli, pianoDeutsche GrammophonDISCOVER Book I: https://uma.lnk.to/UTg76M7nIDDISCOVER Book II: https://uma.lnk.to/CZvJdSvAID

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the last of the German Romantic composers, Richard Strauss, who is today remembered primarily for creating stunning works in two genres: orchestral tone poems and operas. Yet Strauss should be remembered just as much for his creation of music in another genre, because he took up the challenge of continuing and developing the German song tradition in a form usually known as Lieder. An extension of the form was the orchestral song, and Strauss composed more than 40 orchestral songs, spanning most of his life.The soloists featured in this episode of Classics Unlocked are:Jessye Normanhttps://uma.lnk.to/AQLglAiIID​Karita Mattilahttps://uma.lnk.to/6thkJvcSID​Christine Schäferhttps://uma.lnk.to/KzUEkJ3CID​Renée Fleminghttps://uma.lnk.to/TaYhiQocID​Lisa Della Casahttps://uma.lnk.to/uAW4T5jTID

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores another chapter in the extraordinary creative output of Ludwig van Beethoven: his piano concertos. Beethoven revolutionised the way composers composed, and the way performers performed. Today, it is easily forgotten that Beethoven's piano concertos were written for himself to display both his compositional and pianistic capabilities.This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording:BEETHOVEN ODYSSEYColin Davis, conductorStephen Kovacevich, pianoBBC Symphony OrchestraLondon Symphony OrchestraDecca Eloquence 484 1728 (12-CD)DISCOVER: https://Eloquence.lnk.to/00028948417285OA

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the mightiest works for the keyboard: Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Goldberg Variations'. Today, it stands alongside the St Matthew Passion, the Mass in B minor, The Art of Fugue and the Musical Offering as an eternal musical monument. This episode features four different recordings, headed by Lang Lang's 2020 Deutsche Grammophon album:BACH: Goldberg VariationsLang Lang, pianoDG 481 8971DISCOVER: https://uma.lnk.to/usjMcRfFYP​BACH: Goldberg Variations (Extended Edition)Lang Lang, pianoDG 481 9701DISCOVER: https://uma.lnk.to/zomHEe0QYP​BACH: Goldberg Variations George Malcolm, harpsichordDecca Eloquence 482 8439DISCOVER: https://Eloquence.lnk.to/000289482843...​BACH: Goldberg Variations Julian Rachlin, violin; Nobuko Imai, viola; Mischa Maisky, celloDG 477 6378DISCOVER: https://uma.lnk.to/0PYI5JJY​BACH: Goldberg Variations Catrin Finch, harpDG 4778097DISCOVER: https://uma.lnk.to/SYQjBjv0​

This episode of Classics Unlocked delves into some rather recent piano music, from one of the most famous of all contemporary composers. Philip Glass is considered one of the founding fathers of the movement known as ‘Minimalism’. Graham Abbott explores one particular aspect of Glass’s canon – his Études for solo piano, using the 2017 Deutsche Grammophon album from Icelandic performer Víkingur Ólafsson.This episode features the 2017 Deutsche Grammophon recording:GLASS: Piano WorksVíkingur Ólafsson, pianoDG 479 6918DISCOVER: https://uma.lnk.to/GlassPianoID

In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham Abbott unlocks the enormous orchestral output of Johannes Brahms – works which look simultaneously  backwards and forwards, in the sense that they say something truly new for their times and in the sense that they provide a new foundation of their own for composers who followed. This episode featured Decca recordings reissued on the Eloquence label: BRAHMS: The Orchestral Music Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Kurt Masur, conductor Decca Classics 484 0144 (8-CD) DISCOVER: https://Eloquence.lnk.to/WwxARdcXID